Tuesday, February 27, 2018

"Since 1996, following the signing of the Oslo accords by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, Israel restricted Gaza fishers to 20 nautical miles off the coast. That was eventually reduced to 12 miles, then six and now to just three." (thanks Amir)

Monday, February 26, 2018

Regarding the post from yesterday about the warning on Lifetime channel at the end of a movie: it is not a parody. It was a serious warning after a movie (claims to be based on "true events", called His Double Life) which alleges to show a Russian spy marrying a non-suspecting American woman and killing a number of people, in addition to trying to infiltrate the NSA. Can you imagine if this warning appeared on North Korean or Russian TV? Can you imagine the uproar in US media about that? Can you imagine the mockery that this would have engendered if this was on an enemy TV station?

Sunday, February 25, 2018

"Palestinian killed in raid captured on video: A 33-year-old Palestinian man was killed early Thursday by Israeli troops who are seen on a security camera video kicking and beating him with their rifles after he comes charging down an alley, carrying a long object on his shoulder. The Israeli military confirmed that the video showed parts of a predawn arrest raid in the West Bank town of Jericho. An army statement initially said that Palestinians attacked troops during the raid and that an armed man tried to grab a soldier’s gun. In a later statement, it said the man ran toward soldiers with an iron rod and tried to attack them. The statement said troops responded “by opening fire, confronted the terrorist at close proximity and managed to block him.” It added that a knife was found on the man."

I finally spoke to the Lebanese Minister of Justice. We spoke about my case where the Lebanese government has summoned me to appear before the prosecutor of the Military Court, in response to a tweet of mine against meetings in Naqurah between Lebanese Army Officers and Israeli occupation Army officers and I called (by way of irony) for disarming the Lebanese Army and preserving the arms of resistance against Israeli occupation and aggression. He told me that he is in favor of freedom of speech and advised me to hire a lawyer to contact the prosecutor. I explained that I am still waiting for a verdict from the courts from 4 years ago in which I filed a suit against Saudi-run media in a case of defamation. We shall see.

Look at their methodology: "The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) aggregates data from a number of different sources that provide perceptions by business people and country experts of the level of corruption in the public sector....Performed by a credible institution". And notice that they don't mind ranking countries at war, like Yemen and Syria. I wonder what their methodology is there.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Of course, the New York Times account ignores the long record of Israeli bombing of schools in Lebanon and Palestine and the bombing by fighter jets of school children in refugee camps. Also, what about the targeting of Bahr Al-Baqar school in Egypt in April of 1970? That does not count as school violence for the New York Times?

I watched one hour of the first episode. Horrible. He goes to Iran and tells viewers that there is suppression of political freedoms in Iran. He goes to Saudi Arabia and offers no such warning to viewers. His main experts on the subject of the documentary are two: 1) a retired US diplomat who is a big fan of Saudi regime; 2) a Princeton Professor who is know for being very close to the Saudi regime and to Muhammad bin Salman. After one hour, I learned about US documentaries what I knew not before. He also adheres to Saudi regime talking point: that Saudi Arabia was a feminist democratic republic until 1979 when Iran revolution came and the rebellion in the Grand Mosque occurred. But what about the Jihadi rhetoric and religious fanaticism which was employed by Saudi regime against Nasser and against the Left in general BEFORE 1979???

What is funny (or unfunny) is that Hubbard left out that the Lebanese (Christian) comedian that he profiled supports Hizbullah in Lebanon. Yet, the Wall Street Journal reporter here, blamed Hizbullah for his court summon.

""Not all the Jews, but a lot of the Jews, are great friends of mine; they swarm around me and are friendly to me because they know that I'm friendly with Israel. But they don't know how I really feel about what they are doing to this country." Also, On Feb. 1, 1972, unaware of Nixon’s Oval Office taping system, when Nixon ranted about how Jews “totally dominated” the media, Graham said, “This stranglehold has got to be broken or this country is going down the drain.” He also told Nixon that Jews are the ones “putting out the pornographic stuff.”

This is an incredible statement here: "“I would say that for many [Israeli] males, especially, military service serves as a kind of catharsis for their aggressive emotions, therefore much less of it is being expressed in civilian circles,” Dr. Rattner said." Military service is a kind of catharsis? Because they get to kill and maim Palestinians which make them let some steam off?

Thursday, February 22, 2018

UNITED NATIONS — In a story Feb. 21, The Associated Press reported that east Jerusalem is Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967. The story should have made clear that this was quoting a speech by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the U.N. Security Council." (thanks Basim)

There is no question that UC, Berkeley chemistry professor is rising in his field. A year or so ago, he was invited by AUB to give series of lectures. But in the days preceding his lectures (last week), he was awarded the Israeli Wolf Chemistry Prize (which was also won by Ahmad Zuweil, who went on to win the Nobel Prize--an Arab has to prove his acceptance of Israel before receiving any Nobel: just look at the record, from peace to literature to chemistry). He expressed his "pride" in receiving the prize: would he dare accept an Iranian prize, say?So there was a debate at AUB (you see there is more proBDS mood among Western faculty than there is among some AUB faculty), and then they decided to cancel all lectures by Yaghia but noticeably the AUB administration did not explain or release a statement for fear of upsetting the Zionist US Congress.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Two things struck me: 1) they typically don't mention any of the leftist victims of state repression in Lebanon. They only highlight the right-wing victims. 2) notice they refer to the allegedly most corrupt media personality in Lebanon, Marcel Ghanem, as "a popular talk show host". This is like mentioning Robin Leach (of the Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous) as a popular journalist.

It reads: "Stoning stones should be from a medium-size solid brick, almost the size of the palm, not small pebbles which can prolong suffering or he big ones which can kill fast thereby preventing the purposeful torture. If it was a woman, a hole should be dug up to her chest so that she won't be uncovered, and it it was a man, no hole should be dug, and his pudendum should be covered, and the whole body of the woman during stoning. The stoned should not be tied or chained, and remorse should be offered. He could pray two prostrations, and can be provided with water. If he dies, he can be washed and shrouded and prayed over him". This regime is really a stickler for the law.

Monday, February 19, 2018

"The worst nightmare would be if there is a direct confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah...the level of destruction in Lebanon would be absolutely devastating, so there are major points of concern around this situation." (thanks Basim)

Part Two: origins of terrorism in the Middle East: Zionist pioneering. On July 1938, Zionist tossed a bomb in Haifa market place and 8 Arabs are killed or injured. On July 14, 1938, Zionists planted a bomb in Arab vegetable market, killing 12 and wounding 29, including women and children.

“A Carnegie Mellon scholar, Dov H. Levin, has scoured the historical record for both overt and covert election influence operations. He found 81 by the United States and 36 by the Soviet Union or Russia”.

“American interventions have generally been aimed at helping non-authoritarian candidates challenge dictators or otherwise promoting democracy.” This is too funny. Non-authoritarian candidates? Like the Gemayyels and other fascistic elements in Lebanon, or the royals in Jordan and Morocco, or the various military generals around Latin America, or Hamid Karzai or Iyad Allawi?

Sunday, February 18, 2018

"But as with similar measures in Europe’s ex-communist nations, the Ukraine law generated little opposition or even attention internationally — especially when compared to the loud objections to a similar measure in Poland that was signed into law on Tuesday by the president. The law had passed both houses of parliament in recent days. The United States and Israel joined historians and Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust authority in decrying the bill. “The Ukrainian and Polish laws are similar, but in Ukraine’s case we didn’t see anything even close” to the avalanche of condemnations that Poland received, said Eduard Dolinsky, director of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee and a longtime campaigner against Holocaust revision in Ukraine. “I wish we had; maybe this law could have been stopped in Ukraine.”"

I will be telling the story of Zionism through a history of roots of terrorism in the Middle East: an account of deliberate targeting by Zionists of civilians. 1) On April 16, 1936, two Arab civlilians living in a hut were murdered near Petah Tikvah. 2) On March 17, 1937, four bombs were tossed into Arab cafes in Jaffa. One Arab was killed and 10 injured.

"Another major shift in Israeli policy occurred during this time as well, according to Syrian activists and rebels I have interviewed, as well as pro-regime and opposition media reporting. Rebels from Quneitra and western Daraa, as well as media activists in those regions with ties to the rebels, told me that Israel began providing more military support to a greater number of rebel groups affiliated with the Free Syrian Army. This support came in the form of weapons, ammunition and money to purchase weapons on the black market. All of my sources confirmed the identity of at least seven factions receiving Israeli support, on the condition that the groups would not be named. However, two of these groups have been publicly identified before:Liwaa’ Fursan al-Jolanand Firqat Ahrar Nawa. Israeli officials havevehemently deniedsupport to jihadist groups, leaving open the possibility that the government supports these non-jihadist groups. Some of the groups that started getting Israeli support in late 2017 were previously supported by the Military Operations Command, a CIA-directed center in Amman.Until January 2018, this center paid the salaries for tens of thousands of Free Syrian Army “Southern Front” fighters and provided them with materiel and ammunition." And as typical of the Israeli racist apartheid state, the occupation state has only contempt for its quisling Arabs: "Israel’s military establishment is entering relationships with rebel groups with a sense of distrust and even disdain."

Friday, February 16, 2018

Liz Sly (who blocked me on Twitter) is by far one of the worst Western correspondents to cover the Middle East. By far. Look at this article: she assembled three experts to talk about Syria: one is an Israeli, one is far right-Lebanese, and the 3rd is GCC think tank type. Not one person of the other side. Also notice, that while Israel admits that it raised and bombed Syria more than 100 times, Sly insists that Israel is merely watching developments in Syria with great alarm but not interfering at all. Sly has eliminated the thin line separating some Western correspondents from Western propagandists.

"In his meetings last week, Defense Minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah said Qatar would upgrade living quarters for United States military personnel stationed at al-Udeid Air Base, which hosts nearly 10,000 American troops."

Dennis Ross said that there were no criticisms of the Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia. Yes, the regime will arrange for you to meet critics and dissidents in prisons to express their views openly, o brilliant foreign policy expert.

"Virgin Atlantic has changed the name of an in-flight meal after social media backlash from pro-Israel supporters.The dish – a mix of Maftoul and other couscous, tomatoes and cucumber seasoned with parsley, mint and lemon vinaigrette – was formerly called “Palestinian couscous salad” on the menu."

Monday, February 12, 2018

Just like in Syria, why do Western media and DC pundits ignore demonstration when in support of regimes that are not on good terms with the US and only highlight demonstrations against regimes that are not aligned with the US? And why do they ignore demonstrations in places like Jordan or Morocco or Tunisia where the governments are aligned with the US? Why? We know why.

Sunday, February 11, 2018

There is a new trend among Palestinians in 1948 Palestine. They hold in their hands pictures of Arab symbols of resistance against Israel, and they circulate them and they get spread on Arab social media. Some of them are in cities like Tel Aviv (the suburb of Jaffa would be the accurate name of this occupation settlement) or other places.

I can bet the farm (which I dont have) that none of the Western correspondents in Beirut or elsewhere and none of the DC pundits and journalists (especially those Lebanese who work in Saudi regime media and tweet in English) will convey to you the jubilation expressed by Arabs on social media about the humiliating downing of the Israeli fighter jet.

Ben Hubbard covered in a story a silly touristic tour of Beirut conducted by the son of a former minister. There is nothing insightful or significant of this tour. He points out landmarks. But comrade Jana Nakkhal of the Lebanese Communist Party Central Committee conducts a different tour of Beirut which points to the social injustices and struggles within the city and the monstrous reconstruction of Rafiq Hariri, who is praised by the first Ben Hubbard-Loved tour.

Can you imagine if the families of Sep. 11 victims were to know that New York Times refer to the Sep. 11 terrorists as "rebels"? Here is the headline about the recent downing of a Russian jet by Al-Qa`idah terrorists in Syria: "Russian Warplane Shot Down in Syria by Rebels".

Dumb Mossad. This is a regular feature on this blog. How much the image of the Mossad has changed. A bodyguard of Khalid Mishal in Amman foiled a Mossad plot. Then Dubai police identifies all the dumb Mossad agents who murdered a Hamas operative in Dubai, hours after the terrorist operation. And now, only a few weeks ago, dumb Mossad agents placed a terrorist bomb under the car seat of a Lebanese teacher. Within days, Lebanese police uncovered the plot, exposed the culprits and identified the four Mossad agents involved. Notice that none of the Western media posted anything about the bombing and nothing about the embarrassing (for Israel) identification of the dumb Mossad terrorists. Here is the article and their picture are above. If this was an Iranian operation and those were IRGs agents, the story would have been front page in all Western media.

Wednesday, February 07, 2018

He says this about the May 17, 1983 humiliating Lebanese-Israeli peace agreement: "Lebanese militias, led by Hezbollah, quickly emerged to resist the May 17 treaty." Hizbullah militia lead the effort? Hizbullah militia did NOT even exist at the time. Hizbullah's name was not even known at the time, and it was not released. Amal Movement and PSP and other allies were behind the revolt against Amin Gemayel administration and the May 17 agreement. If he fabricates about an event that he says he witnessed, can you imagine his fabrications about events he has not witnessed?

I can never understand the interest and journalistic preferences of Western correspondents in the Middle East. But take a look at this one: I don't understand why a tour which attracts no more than 20 people warrants a story of all the developments in Lebanon. Who knows. The political orientation of the guide is certainly relevant. But look at this in talking about the Holiday Inn: "Yasir Arafat, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, moved in for a while but was later pushed out". Never ever did Arafat stay at the Holiday Inn. He never was there. If the guide said it, he was lying and the correspondent should have verified it.

My sources in the network tell me that the Qatari regime has reached an agreement with US Zionists to kill a documentary on the Israeli lobby. Staff are concerned over the impact of this unprecedented pressures from the Zionists and their influence over the regime.

"Gene Sharp, US scholar whose writinghelped inspire Arab Spring, dies at 90". This would be a
good parody of Western media coverage of Arab affairs. And they say: "It has been translated,
often by activiststhemselves".
Activists themselves? Translation of Gene Sharp was done by
the institute of...Gene Sharp. I am a witness of
that because they contacted me regarding Arabic translation of
his work and asked for suggestions for translation and editing and I thought
they were so lame and uninteresting that I referred them to a friend.

Sunday, February 04, 2018

"Abdel Raouf al-Bilawi, 13, from Dheisheh refugee camp in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, was sentenced to four months for throwing stones at occupation forces, the most common charge leveled against Palestinian children in Israeli military courts, according to prisoners rights group Samidoun." "Israeli occupation forces have a policy of deliberately maiming and disabling Palestinian youths who resist their frequent invasions of Dheisheh refugee camp."

"Costello said at the time that the contemporary Syrian war – now in its eighth year – could not have lasted for more than a year without armaments profiteering. As a result, there had been more than 300,000 people killed, including thousands of children, 13.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, 6.3 million people internally displaced and 5 million people turned into refugees." "Between 2012 and 2016, the 10 largest arms exporters were, in order: the US, Russia, China, France, Germany, the UK, Spain, Italy, Ukraine and Israel."

"On the other side of the world, as a 1993 piece in the New York Times observes, "CIA ties to international drug trafficking date to the Korean War" in the early 1950s. The subsequent brutal US war on Vietnam and neighbouring countries saw the establishment of a heroin-refining lab in Laos - with heroin "soon being ferried out on the planes of the CIA's front airline, Air America". The article continues: "Nowhere, however, was the CIA more closely tied to drug traffic than it was in Pakistan during the Afghan War"."

"In a controversial move, a conservative Norwegian party said Wednesday it is considering former NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen as its choice to sit on the committee which awards the Nobel Peace Prize." "Rasmussen, 64, who is no relation to his successor and current PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen, headed the Western military alliance from 2009 to 2014 and notably as Danish premier was a keen supporter of the 2003 Iraq war."" (thanks Amir)

"An Iranian activist based in the United States, Masih Alinejad,who has a show on Voice of America’s Persian-language satellite channel, has called on women in Iran to observe “White Wednesdays,” wearing white and removing their veils and waving them overhead on sticks to protest the compulsory hijab and other religious restrictions imposed on women."

So this is the official US government position on chemical weapons in Syria: the US government does not mind if the Syrian government uses chlorine gas but objects to the use of sarin gas. And some accuse the US of lack of humanitarianism in its foreign policy?

Friday, February 02, 2018

1) she does not read Arabic but insists on referring to the newspaper of Muhammad bin Salman, Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat as "pan-Arab newspaper" without mentioning the ownership and political orientation. 2) she basically calls all opposition who attended the Russia talks as "pro-Asad" but does not refer to rebel representatives who attended as "pro-Muhammad bin Salman" or pro-Erdogan" or pro-Tamim of Qatar".

Thursday, February 01, 2018

I told you that a long time ago. Look at this: Human Rights Watch talks about political repression in Lebanon but they only mentioned the cases of right-wing, pro-Saudi individuals. There are four leftist writers in Al-Akhbar (me being one of them) who face prosecution by the Lebanese state (for a tweet on the Lebanese Army in my case) and not one of them was mentioned. They also called Marcel Ghanim, the most corrupt media personality in Lebanon and the Arab world, "prominent".

He actually comes out and endorses the Israeli massive killing of Lebanese civilians as necessary. Can you imagine the uproar if an Arab wrote that in the Times about Israeli civilians? (Of course, an Arab won't be able to write that in the Times).

Comic by Terry Furry, reproduced from "Heard the One About the Funny Leftist?" by Cris Thompson, East Bay Express

As'ad's Bio

As'ad AbuKhalil, born March 16, 1960. From Tyre, Lebanon, grew up in Beirut. Received his BA and MA from American University of Beirut in pol sc. Came to US in 1983 and received his PhD in comparative government from Georgetown University. Taught at Tufts University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Colorado College, and Randolph-Macon Woman's College. Served as a Scholar-in-Residence at Middle East Institute in Washington DC. He served as free-lance Middle East consultant for NBC News and ABC News, an experience that only served to increase his disdain for maintream US media. He is now professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. His favorite food is fried eggplants.

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